Biography
Josh DeWeese is
a ceramic artist and educator. He currently teaches ceramics at
Montana State University in Bozeman, where he and his wife Rosalie
Wynkoop have recently built a home and studio. DeWeese served as
Resident Director of the Archie Bray Foundation for the Ceramic
Arts in Helena, Montana from 1992-2006. He holds an MFA from the
New York State College of Ceramics at Alfred, and a BFA from the
Kansas City Art Institute. DeWeese has exhibited and taught
workshops internationally and his work is included in numerous
public and private collections.
Artist Statement
I am interested
in how pots can be used every day to bring art into our lives, enhancing our experience with food,
adorning our homes, and providing a necessary ritual to nourish our soul and mind as well as our
bodies. I try to make pottery that is successful in several ways; comfortable to use, enjoyable to
look at, and interesting to think about.
I'm drawn to the beauty and mystery of high temperature melting and the element of chance that
occurs in atmospheric firings. Wood firing and salt/soda firing are processes where extreme
surfaces can be achieved, in the subtle qualities of raw clays and the vibrant depths of a
running glaze. I enjoy using this extremity in an appropriate way for making pottery and in
bringing the wonder of alchemy and the natural environment to objects used in our daily lives.
Perhaps pottery's greatest power lies in its association with the human body and with being
human. The language of pottery is the language of the body, with necks and feet, bellies and
shoulders, and lips to touch our lips. The intimate relationship that develops with use
strengthens this association. A personality develops, and the pots become our friends. In this
friendship they become reflections of our humanness, and help give meaning to our lives.
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